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Why Blogging?The benefits of blogging with students are quite numerous. It is a great platform for teaching online ethics, internet safety, and the responsible role of a digital citizen. Blogging is also a good tool for reinforcing digital copyright laws, to practice writing for an audience, and to get some extra typing practice. Many teachers also like it as a way to collaborate with other classes and often use it for extra motivation with writing tasks. So, there really are lots of worthwhile reasons to start blogging with your students, and the following sites are great places to get started.

t's the 21st century and I'm sure your school district has been embracing technology. With budget cuts, however, can your school keep up with the need for new and updated computers? I work in Bergen County (N.J.) where we have the highest property taxes in the nation, and yet this fall I'm not sure whether or not our media center will see more computers for our students. (Thank you, Governor Christie) I know of districts where every student has their own laptop. Not where I am. Still, I try to use what we have to prepare our students for when they graduate and go out into the world. No matter what they will do in their career, whether it's an auto mechanic or a lawyer, they will need these digital skills. If you are still wary about technology, it is time to jump into the water. We don't want you and your students left behind.

PrimaryAccess is a suite of free online tools that allows students and teachers to use primary source documents to complete meaningful and compelling learning activities with digital movies, storyboards, rebus stories and other online tools.

The "Top 25" Websites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. Media Sharing Digital Storytelling Manage and Organize Social Networking and Communication Curriculum Sharing Content Resources: Lesson Plans and More Content Collaboration

Cartoon Story Maker Downloads... Information... Examples... Cartoon Story Maker v1.1 Windows XP, Vista & Windows 7(2.6MB) To install click on the link, select 'Run' (or 'Open'), and follow the prompts. Storyboard planning sheet (pdf 56kb). Plan your story first. Black and white master for photocopying. Help files (pdf 493kb). Print friendly version. A quick look at the Cartoon Story Maker Features Cartoon Story Maker in the classroom Installation and operation Version history Further information and help Help files Alignment with the VELS Other applications... Memory Game Maker Tetris Game Maker Matching Game Maker Sentence Game Maker Comprehension Task Maker Portal Maker Chinese Introductions ESL Phone call French My day in Paris My place At the chemist German My family Greek At the market At the cafe Indonesian At the market Phone call Italian Tour of Rome At the shop Running late Favorite pastimes Japanese Ordering a meal A quick look at the Cartoon Story Maker back to top... Features Make 2D screen based cartoon stories to illustrate conversations and dialogues. Stories can include an unlimited number of frames and are view frame by frame. Each frame can include: Images: Drag and drop library items onto the frame, or import your own digital photos or images saved from the web. Text bubbles: Select from a range text bubbles and information boxes. Drag and drop onto the frame and start typing! Text can be in any language and any script. Voice recordings: Add new voice recordings using the simple built in recording panel. You can also add recordings already saved on your computer. Stories are saved on your computer as HTML page (webpages), and can easily viewed by others on any computer using a web browser such as Internet Explorer. Stories can also be printed. Completed stories can also be loaded back into the Cartoon Story Maker and edited or added to.   A character from the image library sits infront of an imported background image found on the web. Features list character and background libraries import your own images text bubbles and information boxes accent key panel import voice recordings built in recorder to add your own voice recordings unlimited number of frames copy and paste frames preview

print function saved stories can be opened and edited copy and paste text from other documents help files (available online and included in the program) See the Help files for more details.

It’s getting to be that time of year. Your chances of seeing school supply commercials have increased exponentially. Kids are breaking out last year’s Elmer’s in anticipation of glorious glue feasts. Teens are cramming their entire summer reading into the last week of August. Yep, it’s back to school time, folks